The Science Behind Growing Your Nails Faster

Debunking Myths and Revealing Truths About Fast Nail Growth

When it comes to growing your nails faster, there are countless myths and misconceptions that have circulated for years. Some people believe that special treatments, products, or even home remedies can magically accelerate nail growth.

However, the truth is that the rate at which your nails grow is largely determined by genetics, and there’s no surefire way to make them grow significantly faster. In this article, we’ll debunk common myths and reveal the science behind healthy nail growth. While you can’t make your nails grow at lightning speed, you can certainly improve their overall health, strength, and appearance by following proper nail care practices and adopting a well-balanced lifestyle. Doing this, your nails will appear to grow faster, even though they are growing at your normal rate.

The key is in recognizing that a nail plate affected by disease, infection, dryness, cytostatica or nail biting grows per definition at a slower rate but it is also true that some nail unit diseases can cause nails to grow faster than normal.

I. Proper Nail Care and Hygiene

• Keep nails clean by regularly washing them, dry them well and apply nail & skin oil.
  Maintaining clean nails is essential for their overall health. Regularly washing your nails drying them well and keeping them well-oiled helps prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in or underneath the nail.
• Avoid using harsh chemicals.
  Harsh chemicals in cleaning products can weaken your nails. Use gloves when working with chemicals, working in the garden and if possible when working with water.
• Moisturize your hands and nails to prevent dryness.
  Dry nails are more prone to breakage and infection. Applying a good quality nail and skin oil or a good lotion regularly can help keep your hands and nails hydrated and healthy.

II. Nutrition and Diet

A nail plate can only get its nutrients from your blood. So our blood supply to the nail matrix is also important, if this is diminished then a poorer quality nail plate cell will be produced, nail plate cells can also be influenced by skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis.

• Consume a balanced diet rich in nutrients for nail health.
  Your nails need essential nutrients to grow strong and healthy. A balanced diet that includes a variety of vitamins and minerals is crucial.
• Incorporate foods high in biotin, such as eggs, nuts, and leafy greens.
  Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is often associated with nail health. Foods like eggs, nuts, and leafy greens are rich sources of biotin.
• Ensure an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, vitamin C, and zinc.
  Vitamins and minerals play a significant role in nail health. Vitamin E helps with nail strength, while vitamin C and zinc promote healthy nail growth.

III. Hydration

• Drink plenty of water to keep your body and nails hydrated.
  Proper hydration is essential for nail health. Drinking enough water helps maintain moisture levels in your hands, nail unit and nails. (At 21 years of age, 18% of your natural nail is water)
• Apply a moisturizing nail and cuticle cream regularly.
  In addition to staying hydrated internally, using a good quality moisturizing nail and skin oil and or lotion can help keep your nails from becoming dry and brittle.

IV. Nail Strengthening Products

• Consider using nail strengthening products or treatments.
  Nail strengthening products can provide extra support for your nails, especially if they are prone to breaking. There are lots on the market, avoid using the ones that just make your nails harder, hard nails break, what you need is strength and flexibility so something that strengthens your nails while maintaining flexibility is perfect. When in doubt use a good quality oil.
• Use a clear or strengthening base coat before applying nail polish.
  Applying a clear or strengthening base coat before nail polish can help protect your nails and prevent staining from nail polish. A good ridge filler is a good place to start, apply 2 thin coats for best results.

For professional salons there is an amazing nail strengthening system that works IN the nail plate not on it, remember flexible nails are stronger than hard nails, a hard nail will fracture when its damaged, a flexible nail will bend and not break.

V. Avoid biting your nails or using them as tools.

• Overuse of a nail file before product application.
  If you wear nail polish, remove it on time and with a good nail polish remover. Hold the cotton pad or lint free wipe on the nail polish for 30 seconds before rubbing it off, this will help the remover penetrate the nail polish and make removal easier.

If you wear gel polish, choose a quality nail plate cleanser instead of roughing up the nail plate before product application and remove it according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• Overuse of a nail file before product removal.
  Take care if using an Efile during the removal process that you only break open the gel polish before soak off. Soak Off Gel Polish is softer than hard gel or acryl, filing the top coat open with a hand file (180grit) should be sufficient.

If you use an Efile to thin the product for an ‘in fill’ take care to leave a layer of product on the natural nail. Be careful not to accidently remove the upper layer of the nail plate.

Nail biting and using your nails as tools can lead to damage and hinder their growth. Learning or coaching yourself or your client not to bite your/their nails will make a huge difference in how your natural nail grows but also help to combat dryness – Dryness can cause the bed epithelium to no longer adhere to the nail bed causing onycholysis and can even prevent the nail plate cells forming the nail plate as it should. The elasticity of the bed epithelium is paramount to a healthy nail plate.

VI. Protect Your Nails

• Wear gloves when doing household chores or working with harsh chemicals.
  Household chores and exposure to harsh chemicals can weaken your nails. Wearing gloves provides an extra layer of protection.

Wear gloves when it’s extremely cold, oil your nails before you put them on and after you take them off.

• Protect your nails from excessive exposure to water.
  Prolonged exposure to water can cause your nails to become weak and prone to breakage. It’s important to realise, it’s not a problem when nails are wet, but water causes the nail plate to expand and when the water evaporates from those nail plates the nail plate will shrink back to their original size, this shrinkage will expose any small fractures and make them bigger.

If you are wearing artificial nail products wear gloves to protect those stunning nails, oil before putting on your gloves the same applies when cleaning the car or doing the dishes, gloves are your best friends.

VII. Regular Trimming

• Trim your nails regularly to prevent them from becoming too long and prone to breaking.
  Regular nail trimming helps maintain their length and prevents them from becoming overly long and fragile.
• Use a sharp, clean nail clipper for trimming.
  Using a sharp, clean nail clipper ensures a clean and even cut, reducing the risk of nail damage. If you use a nail file, 220 – 180 grit is better. Using a lower grit can cause damage to the free edge of the nail plate creating splitting and delamination.

IX. Patience

• Understand that nail growth takes time, and it varies from person to person.
  There’s no instant solution for rocket-speed growth. Be patient; your nails are on their own journey.

• For pregnant women it’s a little different.
  When you are pregnant your nails will grow faster, this is due to a greater volume of blood in your body and the growth hormones that are produced so your baby develops well. The minute you give birth this acceleration stops and your nail growth will be normal (your normal) again.

• In general men have thicker nails than women
  They grow at a slightly faster rate making them much better candidates for nail polish and gel polish.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s nails grow at different rates, and there’s no instant solution for faster growth. Dryness is the #1 enemy for nails and the nail unit and really can slow down your nail growth – using good quality oils and lotion really can make a difference – also for men.

• Be patient and consistent with your nail care routine.
  Consistency is key when it comes to nail care. By following a regular and healthy routine, you can maintain the best possible nail health.

X. Consult a Professional

If you have concerns about your nail health, consider consulting a dermatologist or nail technician for advice and guidance.

If you’re experiencing persistent issues with your nails, seeking professional guidance is a wise choice. Dermatologists and qualified, well-schooled nail technicians or medical hand specialists can provide special, personalized recommendations based on your specific needs.

It’s important to remember, nutrients come to the nail matrix via the blood if the blood can’t reach the nail matrix as it used too, slower growing or defect nail plates will be the result. Patients receiving chemotherapy can experience significant nail plate and or nail bed damage in the first hours of treatment or even for years after the treatment ends, it can also stop the nail plate cells from being released for a short time creating Beaus lines or onychomadesis – Gentle care and maintenance becomes significantly more important for these patients. It’s the last thing you want to hear before commencing chemotherapy, but it’s wise to remove all artificial nail products before hand so that early signs of damage of the capillaries of the nail bed and leakage from this damage, can be spotted in time.

Conclusion: Achieving Healthy Nails

While the science behind growing your nails faster may not (yet) yield miraculous results, the good news is that you have the power to improve the overall health and appearance of your nails whatever their condition.

Proper nail care, a balanced diet, hydration, and protection are key elements in maintaining strong and beautiful nails.

Remember that patience and consistency are your allies on your journey to healthier and more resilient nails.

By following these guidelines and debunking the myths surrounding nail growth, you can enjoy nails that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also in the best possible condition.